GRAND RAPIDS -- The shuttered Arena Football League has notified its players that it plans to discontinue health insurance while preparing for a 2010 relaunch, two union player representatives told The Press.

It's a surprise move that members of the AFL Players Association claim could stall the league's progress toward returning to action next year.

"I am less optimistic than I have ever been," said Grand Rapids Rampage placekicker Brian Gowins, the alternate union representative for the team.

"It's frustrating. I think a lot of players are coming to the point (waiting for AFL owners to finalize their plans) that they're going to have to wash their hands of the league and move on," he added. "A lot of them can't wait much longer."

The Press has obtained a copy of the term sheet that outlines conditions of a new four-year collective-bargaining agreement between AFL owners and players that runs through 2013 and clears the way for the league's return.

It stipulates "teams will pay 100 percent of the cost of (transition) insurance coverage for all players receiving insurance through at least June 30, 2009" or longer, depending on contract status, length of service time and other factors.

AFL owners sent a memo to AFLPA leadership late last week reneging on that pledge, according to internal AFLPA documents obtained by The Press.

Scott Gorsline, Rampage chief executive officer, declined to comment on the matter. He insisted the league is making every effort to relaunch despite missing numerous deadlines since March 1 to rubber stamp the newly revised CBA that included financial concessions from the players.

The AFLPA ratified the term sheet last month.

The owners, who've asked for and received repeated deadline extensions in exchange for continuing to provide players with insurance coverage, missed their latest deadline for the ratifying the agreement May 20.

"I wouldn't say there's a formal deadline," Gorsline said of the league's return. "The clock is ticking. To successfully relaunch, everything has to be in place and it has to be done right. I'm sure players are frustrated.

"Everyone is frustrated."

The lead negotiator for the owners, Jim Renacci of the Columbus Destroyers, could not be reached for comment. Nor could Rampage owner Dan DeVos.

Another player representative told The Press the AFLPA might consider legal action to make sure players keep getting insurance coverage.

Gowins is one of the lucky ones.

The league's first extension of insurance benefits helped him pay medical bills after his wife, Lisa, gave birth to a son, Grayson, on March 19.